Method and apparatus pertaining to a medical drape having a suction port

ABSTRACT

A medical drape has at least one suction port disposed. By one approach the medical drape includes a fenestration and the suction port is disposed within the fenestration. By one approach the fenestrated area includes an incise film (which may itself be fenestrated if desired) and the suction port is disposed through that incise film. Suction applied to this suction port facilitates maintaining the incise film in place on the patient. This suction port can have a first end configured to attach to suction tubing. The medical drape can include a patient-side spacer and this spacer can comprise a compressible, resilient material that is substantially permeable to liquids. If desired, such a spacer can be disposed over a patient-side suction opening of the suction port.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/339,837, filed Dec. 29, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.application Ser. No. 61/448,250, filed Mar. 2, 2011. The contents ofthese applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to medical drapes, and more particularly to amedical drape used in connection with surgical or medical procedures.

BACKGROUND

Medical drapes are widely used to cover a patient during the performanceof surgical and other medical procedures as a protective measure.Medical drapes are typically made sterile and aid in preventing thetransmission of infection(s) to the patient by helping create a sterileenvironment surrounding the surgical site and maintaining an effectivebarrier that reduces the passage of microorganisms between non-sterileand sterile areas.

These drapes often include fenestrations that extend completely throughthe drape to provide access to a corresponding area of the patient'sbody over which the respective fenestration lies. In many cases anincise film fills all or a portion of the fenestrated area. This incisefilm will often have a side that includes an adhesive to facilitateadhering the incise film to the patient's skin to help retain theinstalled position of the incise film. That said, it is not uncommon foran adhesively-bonded incise film to nevertheless change position duringuse due to any number of contributing factors

As but one small example in these regards, surgical procedures oftenpermit a patient's bodily fluids to escape the body (via, for example, asurgical incision within the fenestration). Unfortunately, such fluidscan negatively impact the adhesive bond between the aforementionedincise film and the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through provision of themethod and apparatus pertaining to a medical drape having a suction portdescribed in the following detailed description, particularly whenstudied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 comprises a side-elevational sectioned view as configured inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 comprises a side-elevational detail view as configured inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 comprises a bottom plan view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 11 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12 comprises a side-elevational view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention

FIG. 13 comprises a side-elevational detail view as configured inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 14 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 15 comprises a top plan view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 16 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 17 comprises a side-elevational sectioned view along line B-B fromFIG. 16;

FIG. 18 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 19 comprises a perspective detail view as configured in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 20 comprises a perspective view as configured in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a fenestratedmedical drape has at least one suction port disposed within thefenestrated area. By one approach the medical drape comprises afenestrated medical drape. In such a case the suction port can bedisposed wholly or partially within the fenestrated area or adjacent thefenestrated area as desired. By one approach the fenestrated areaincludes an incise film (which may itself be fenestrated if desired) andthe suction port is disposed through that incise film. So configured,suction applied to this suction port facilitates maintaining the incisefilm in place on the patient.

This suction port can have a first end configured to attach to suctiontubing. An opposing end of the suction port can have one or morelaterally-disposed suction openings configured to be disposedessentially adjacent a patient's skin when the medical drape isoperationally disposed on the patient. These laterally-disposed suctionopenings may, by one approach, be radially disposed with respect to acentral pneumatic pathway that pneumatically connects, for example, tothe aforementioned first end of the suction port.

These teachings will accommodate having more than one such suction portwithin the medical drape's fenestration. This can permit the user toselect a particular suction port to employ during a given procedure. Or,if desired, this will facilitate simultaneously using two or more of thesuction ports during the procedure.

These approaches are highly flexible in practice. For example, theforegoing approaches can be employed in conjunction with a pouch that isdisposed about the fenestration to collect at least some of thepatient's exuding liquids. This pouch can itself include another suctionport that serves to facilitate removing at least some of the liquidsfrom within the pouch.

So configured, these teachings are readily employed to leverage theefficacy of existing medical drapes and particularly fenestrated medicaldrapes having an incise film disposed within the fenestration. Thesuction introduced between the patient's skin and the incise film servesto help maintain the positioning of the incise film to either supplementthe aforementioned adhesive or to serve in lieu thereof. These teachingscan be economically deployed and can greatly aid in maintaining theoperational integrity of the procedure field.

These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thoroughreview and study of the following detailed description. Referring now tothe drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, an illustrative process 100that is compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented.

At step 101 this process 100 provides a medical drape having afenestration formed therethrough (it being understood that theseteachings are not limited to fenestrated medical drapes). FIG. 2provides an illustrative example in these regards. The drape 200generally comprises a main portion having a front side that faces awayfrom a patient (not shown) when operationally deployed and a back sidethat faces towards (and typically at least partially contacts) thepatient when so deployed. Such a drape 200 can be at least largelycomprised of a water-repellent or water-impermeable material and/or iscoated with such a water-repellent or water impermeable material toprevent the passage of bodily fluids and/or contaminatingmicroorganisms. For example, the main portion may be made of variouswoven, non-woven, and/or hydroentangled materials. The base fabrics usedto comprise the drape 200 may include Airlaid, spunlace, spunbound,meltblow, and blends of polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene asdesired, alone or in various layered combinations.

The fenestration 201 comprises an opening formed in the drape 200 havinga shape, size, and location suitable to the intended use of the drape200. These teachings will readily accommodate having a plurality of suchfenestrations of identical or differing sizes and shapes as desired.Such a fenestration 201 permits a surgical or other medical procedure tobe performed therethrough. Though such a fenestration 201 can haveessentially any shape, in many cases such fenestrations are generallyegg-shaped though oval shapes, pear shapes, and football shapes (i.e,American football) are also sometimes employed.

Referring again to FIG. 1, at step 102 this process 100 provides fordisposing an incise film within the fenestration 201. FIGS. 3 and 4offer an illustrative example in these regards. In this particularexample the incise film 300 completely fills the fenestration 201. Theedges of the incise film 300 in fact extend a bit beyond thefenestration's boundary to provide material to facilitate connecting theincise film 300 to the drape 200.

The composition of such an incise film 300 is well known to thoseskilled in the art of medical drapes. The incise film 300 may begenerally transparent to facilitate convenient use by themedical-services provider. In many cases the material will be bothresilient yet pliable to thereby facilitate the ease by which the drape200 in general and the incise film 300 in particular can be placed in adeployed and conformal disposition on a patient.

The incise film 300 can be secured to the drape 200 using any of avariety of attachment mechanisms. Examples include, but are not limitedto, adhesives, thread (or the like), ultrasonic welding, and so forth.As the present teachings are not particularly sensitive to choices madein these regards, further elaboration will not be provided here.

By one approach, and referring now in particular to FIG. 4, the incisefilm 300 has an adhesive 401 disposed on one side thereof. In many casesthis side will comprise the patient side of the incise film 300 when thedrape is operationally deployed. This adhesive will facilitate retainingthe incise film 300 (and, at least to some extent, the drape 300 aswell) in an operationally-deployed state by adhering to the patient'sskin (not shown). When using an adhesive 401 these teachings will alsoaccommodate using a peel patch 402 in combination therewith. Peelpatches are generally known in the art and often comprise a treatedpaper or plastic sheet that is loosely retained in position by theadhesive 401 but that can also be readily removed (for example, bypeeling the peel patch 402 away from the adhesive 401) to thereby exposethe adhesive 401 at a time of need.

In some cases, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the incise film 300 iswhole; i.e., there are no openings of any kind that penetrate throughthe incise film 300. In other cases, the incise film 300 will comprise apre-fenestrated incise film 300. FIG. 5 depicts a simple example inthese regards and illustrates a pre-fenestrated incise film 300 having asingle fenestration 500 formed therethrough prior to deployment and use.When using a non-pre-fenestrated incise film 300 such as the oneillustrated in FIG. 3, of course, the surgeon will often form an openingthrough the incise film 300 (using, for example, a scalpel) during thecourse of the corresponding surgical/medical procedure.

Referring again to FIG. 1, step 103 of this process 100 then providesfor installing at least one suction port through the incise film 300 andwithin the fenestration 201. This reference to a “suction port” will beunderstood to refer to a component that is not, for example, a mereopening through the incise film 300 (such as, for example, thefenestration 500 depicted in FIG. 5). Instead, a suction port will beunderstood to comprise a component configured and designed to couple (ina sealed manner) to a suction tube or the like such as one typicallyfinds in a hospital operating room to permit suction provided by thesuction tube to be delivered to a suction input portion of the suctionport. More particularly, it will be understood that a “suction port”will not collapse or deform during ordinary use as an element in apneumatic pathway that delivers suction.

FIG. 6 provides an illustrative example in these regards. In thisexample the suction port 600 is disposed within the fenestration 201 ofthe drape 200 and, more particularly, is also disposed through theincise film 300. (If desired, one or more of these suction ports 600 canbe disposed only partially within the fenestrated area or even outsidethe fenestrated area and adjacent the fenestrated area.) By one approachonly one such suction port serves in these regards. By another approach,however, additional such suction ports (such as those denoted byreference numerals 601 and 602) can also be provided. Providing aplurality of suction ports can permit the medical-services provider toselect a particular suction port (or ports) to use that will bestaccommodate the circumstances that attend a particular medicalprocedure. These teachings will also accommodate, if desired, providingsuction ports having differing suction-tube interfaces to accommodate arange of different suction tube sizes and configurations.

These teachings will accommodate a wide variety ofdifferently-configured suction ports 600. By one approach, for example,the suction port can comprise a simple short tube. By another approachthe suction port 600 can comprise a pneumatic pathway having one or morebends, twists, turns, or the like.

FIG. 7, for example, depicts one approach in these regards. Here, thesuction port 600 comprises an elbow-shaped component having a firstportion 701 that is generally perpendicular to a second portion 702 thatis itself generally perpendicular to a base 703. In this example thesevarious components of the suction port 600 share a common pneumaticpathway that passes therethrough. The aforementioned first portion 701comprises a first end of the suction port 600 and is configured toattach in a sealed manner to suction tubing (not shown). (Theseteachings will also accommodate, if desired, a suction port 600 thatcomprises a T-shaped component to thereby provide an exposed suctioncoupling to use with ancillary equipment such as, for example, ayankauer, a vacuum-relief valve, or the like.)

In this particular illustrative example this first end has a smooth,regular exterior surface (where the exterior surface can be tubular inshape as illustrated or inwardly inclined to form a cone to facilitateeasier insertion of this first portion 701 into the tip of a length ofsuction tubing). Numerous possibilities exist in these regards, however.For example, as shown in FIG. 8, this first portion 701 can have aplurality of small truncated cones 801 to facilitate suction tubeinsertion and retention. In the examples shown the suction tubingremains in place through frictional interaction with the first portion701 of the suction port 600. These teachings will work with otherapproaches, however, including threaded connections, snap-basedconnections, and so forth as desired.

FIG. 9 illustrates that the suction port 600 can have a suction-inputopening(s) 901 on the underside of the aforementioned base 703. Thissuction-input opening 901, of course, pneumatically couples to andcomprises a part of the aforementioned common pneumatic pathway. Such asuction-input opening 901 will tend to face the patient's skin when thedrape 200 is operationally disposed on the patient.

These teachings will accommodate a variety of approaches with respect tothe location, orientation, and/or number of suction-input openings. Byway of illustration, and referring now to FIG. 10, the suction port 600can include one or more laterally-disposed suction-input openings 1001in addition to, or in lieu of, the aforementioned patient-facingsuction-input opening 901. In the specific example shown there are aplurality of these laterally-disposed suction-input openings 1001 andthese pathways are radially disposed with respect to a central pneumaticpathway (i.e., the aforementioned common pneumatic pathway) like thespokes of a wheel. Such laterally-disposed suction-input openings 1001will tend to present themselves laterally with respect to the patient'sskin when the drape 200 is operationally disposed on the patient.

By one approach these various parts of the suction port 600 can comprisean integral whole. (As used herein, this reference to “integral” will beunderstood to refer to a combination and joinder that is sufficientlycomplete so as to consider the combined elements to be as one.Accordingly, two items would not be considered “integral” with respectto one another if they are merely connected to one another by the actionof a holding member such as a screw, bolt, clamp, clip, or the like.)

These teachings will support other approaches in these regards, however.As one illustrative example, the elbow-shaped portion (comprising thefirst and second portions 701 and 702) can be physically discrete withrespect to the base 703. In such a case, if desired, the elbow-shapedportion may be configured to, for example, rotate with respect to thebase 703 (as suggested by the curved arrow in FIG. 10). This rotationalcapability can facilitate conveniently positioning the suction tubing asdesired.

The suction port 600 can be comprised of such materials as may best suita particular intended application setting. This can include, forexample, any of a variety of metals or plastics. For many purposes, aswhen the suction port 600 comprises a uni-piece embodiment, agenerally-resilient but mildly-pliable and non-brittle plastic materialwill serve well in these regards.

As described above, the suction port 600 is disposed within the drape'sfenestration 201. When the fenestration 201 includes an incise film 300,the suction port 600 will typically also pass through and be supportedby that incise film 300. Referring to FIG. 11, by one approach this cancomprise using a small patch 1101 having a hole to accommodate, here,the elbow-shaped portion of the suction port 600 but not the base 703thereof. This patch 1101 can have an adhesive surface that adheres tothe incise film 300 to thereby hold the suction port 600 in place. Theseteachings will accommodate, however, essentially any useful manner ofmaintaining the respective position of the suction port 600 with respectto the fenestration 201.

Referring to FIG. 12, a removable cap 1201 can serve to seal the suctionport 300 if desired. Such a cap 1201 can be useful, for example, whenproviding a plurality of suction ports with a given drape 200. In such acase, such caps 1201 will serve to seal suction ports that themedical-services provider may choose to not use during the medicalprocedure. By one approach, for example, such a cap 1201 can remain inplace via a friction fit. For ease of use this friction fit can besufficiently weak to permit removal of the cap 1201 by hand.

So configured, and referring now to FIG. 13, the drape 200 can be placedover (all or part) of a patient's body 1300 such that the fenestration201 is disposed over the area of interest. The aforementioned peel patch402 can be removed by hand and the incise film 300 placed into contactwith the patient's body 1300. A suction tube (not shown) can then beattached to the suction port 600 and suction applied to draw in air viathe suction-input openings 1001 in the base 703 of the suction port 600and also through the patient-facing opening 901 which does not appear inthis view).

Generally speaking, though some amount of liquid (such as blood or otherbodily fluids from the patient) may enter the suction port 600 and exitvia the suction tubing, the primary purpose of this arrangement is topull at least a partial vacuum between at least portions of the incisefilm 300 and the skin of the patient to thereby aid in retaining theplacement of the incise film 300 on the patient 1300 and therebysupplement the aforementioned adhesive 401 (when present).

These teachings provide for only modest, inexpensive alterations ofexisting drape designs and the use of suction capabilities that aretypically already available in a medical-services venue. Accordingly,the incremental costs of adopting and utilizing these teachings arevirtually nil. The benefits, however, can be considerable. Imposing avacuum between the incise film 300 and the patient's skin can greatlyimprove the opportunities for the aforementioned adhesive tosuccessfully hold the incise film 300 in place during a medicalprocedure. This, in turn, can improve sterility conditions for thepatient and reduce the overall time required to complete the medicalprocedure.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety ofmodifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect tothe above described embodiments without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

As but one illustrative example in these regards, and referring to FIGS.1 and 14, at optional step 104 the aforementioned process 100 providesfor attaching a liquid-collection pouch 1400 to the medical drape 200.This liquid-collection pouch 1400 surrounds the drape's fenestration 201and can be comprised of a material similar or identical to the drape200. So configured, fluids exuding from the patient from within thefenestration 201 can flow outwardly from the fenestration and poolwithin the liquid-collection pouch 1400. In such a case, and again asdesired, optional step 105 provides for installing at least one suctionport 1401 in (i.e., through) the liquid-collection pouch 1400. Thissuction port 1401 can connect to corresponding suction tubing andthereby remove at least some liquid as may have been retained by theliquid-collection pouch 1400. If desired, the same source of suction asone employs for the suction port 600 that is disposed within the drape'sfenestration 201 can also be employed to provide suction to theliquid-collection pouch's suction port 1401.

In such a case, and referring now to FIG. 15, the liquid-collectionpouch's suction port can comprise a plurality of suction ports 1502 thatsubstantially surround the medical drape's fenestration 201. By oneapproach, and as illustrated, these suction ports 1502 can compriseopenings in tubing 1501 that surrounds (or at least substantiallysurrounds) the drape's fenestration 201 and that includes an exit port1503 that can connect, for example, to suction tubing.

As another example in these regards, and referring now to FIGS. 16 and17, a spacer 1600 can be employed in conjunction with these teachings.This spacer 1600 can be disposed, for example, on a patient side 1601 ofthe medical drape 200. By one approach, the spacer 1600 can be attachedto the patient side 1601 of the medical drape 200 using an adhesive ofchoice.

In this illustrative example the spacer 1600 is disposed over thesuction opening 901 of the suction port 600. This spacer 1600 can becomprised of a compressible, resilient material such as any of a varietyof sponge-like materials. In addition (or in lieu thereof) this spacer1600 can comprise a liquid-permeable spacer such that bodily fluids 1701can readily flow substantially unimpeded therethrough and hence into andthrough the suction port 600 as illustrated in FIG. 17.

So configured, the medical drape 200 can be disposed over the patient.When suction is applied via the suction port 600, air and liquids aresucked through the spacer 1600 and the suction port 600 to therebycreate at least a partial vacuum between at least portions of themedical drape 200 and the patient's body to thereby assist inmaintaining the medical drape 200 in place even in the absence of anadhesive.

In the illustrative example above the spaced 1600 covered thesuction-port opening 901 of the suction port 600. These teachings willaccommodate other approaches in these regards, however. As one examplein these regards, and as shown in FIG. 18, the spacer 1600 can comprisea ring-shaped component 1800 that surrounds the suction-port opening901. As another example in these regards, and as shown in FIG. 19, thespacer can comprise a plurality of segments 1901 that are disposed aboutthe suction-port opening 901 like spokes about an axle. It will beunderstood that these examples are for the sake of illustration and arenot intended to suggest any particular limitations in these regards.

In the above examples the suction port 600 was located within afenestration. As yet another example of the flexibility of theseteachings, and referring now to FIG. 20, one or more such suction ports600 can be disposed through a non-fenestrated medical drape 200. In thisparticular example there are two such suction ports 600 and both have aspacer 1600 as described above associated therewith on a patient side ofthe medical drape 200 (which is the underside of the medical drape 200as oriented in FIG. 20).

This illustrative example also includes a spacer 1600 disposed on thepatient side of the medical drape 200. In this example the spacer 1600comprises a ring-shaped component 2001 that surrounds both of thesuction ports 600. So configured, a partial vacuum formed between themedical drape 200 and the patient (not shown) within the boundaries ofthe ring-shaped component 2001 will serve to largely or fully maintainthe position of the medical drape 200 with respect to the patient.

And as yet one further example in these regards, the aforementionedincise film 300 can comprise an incise film having an antimicrobialcoating disposed thereon. In this case it is possible that the suctionformed between the antimicrobial coating and the patient's skin willimprove the antimicrobial action of the antimicrobial coating byimproving the contact between those two surfaces.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a medical drape having at leastone fenestration formed therethrough; a pouch disposed about thefenestration to collect at least some of a patient's exuding liquids,wherein the pouch includes a first suction port to facilitate removingat least some of the liquids from the pouch; an incise film disposedwithin the fenestration and having an adhesive disposed on a patientside thereof to facilitate adhering the incise film to a patient; asecond suction port disposed within the at least one fenestration andthrough the incise film, such that suction applied to the second suctionport further facilitates maintaining the incise film in place on thepatient.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first suction portcomprises a plurality of suction ports disposed and configured tofacilitate removing liquids from the pouch.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the plurality of suction ports substantially surround thefenestration in the medical drape.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe incise film comprises a pre-fenestrated incise film.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the second suction port has a first endconfigured to attach to suction tubing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5wherein the second suction port includes at least one laterally-disposedsuction-input opening configured to be disposed essentially adjacent thepatient's skin when the apparatus is operationally disposed on thepatient.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second suction portincludes a plurality of the laterally-disposed suction-input openings.8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the incise film comprises anon-pre-fenestrated incise film.
 9. An apparatus comprising: a medicaldrape having at least one fenestration formed therethrough; at least onesuction port disposed within the at least one fenestration; wherein thesuction port has a first end configured to attach to suction tubing; anincise film disposed at least partially within the fenestration; and atleast one compressible spacer disposed on a patient side of the medicaldrape.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the suction port includes atleast one laterally-disposed suction-input opening configured to bedisposed essentially adjacent a patient's skin when the medical drape isoperationally disposed on the patient.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10wherein the suction port includes a plurality of the laterally-disposedsuction-input openings.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the suctionport is disposed through the incise film.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12wherein the incise film has an adhesive disposed on a patient sidethereof to adhere the incise film to the patient.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein the spacer is disposed over the at least one suctionopening.